Volumetric gas feeding apparatus



Nov. 7, 1950 E. E. HARPER VOLUMETRIC GAS FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 8, 1945 INVENTORl E//Wer E. Hama( l BY @i w Y w w l n .furl .............rr.m

ATTUPNEY.

Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT lOFFICE VoLUME'rRIo GAS FEEDING APPARATUS Elmer E. Harper, Monrovia, Calif.; Esther Pardee Harper, executrix of Elmer E. Harper, deceased Application January 8, 1945, Serial N0. 571,878

This invention relates to apparatus for feeding or dispensing chemicals, such as chlorine gas, ammonia gas, etc., with particular reference to the feeding of suchmaterials by Volume, as, for example, in the feeding of chlorine gas for the chlorination of water in commercial water purification systems. v

Accordingly, it is a special object of the invention to devise new and improved apparatus of this character which will operate with superior efficiency and accuracy as compared with the types of equipment now in common use, and which will also be distinguished by marked advantages as regards both the capacity range and the sensitiveness of the .control of the feeding rate of the apparatus.

For the accomplishment of these purposes I have devised equipment using aminimum of the usual liquid type of Afloat-actuated control means, and in lieu thereof employ control devices of a more accurate and sensitive nature, such as improved and more delicate valve mechanism in combination with gas pressure responsive means and so arranged vas to form a highly sensitive control system whereby the operation is rendered most flexible as regards its capacity and also the ease and accuracy of the control of the rate. of gas outflow from the apparatus.

As one form of construction for the embodiment ofvmy improvements, I provide apparatus in which a differential pressure zone is maintained in the path of the gas flow,'together with control means which is responsive to fluctuations in said pressure for producing an appropriate regulation of the flow rate. In practice, the improved apparatus will provideregulating means for regulating the flow of gas both into and out of the control or regulating chamber, together with control means responsive to pressure variations, whereby a corresponding control action Will be imparted simultaneously to the regulating means at the intake as well as -the outlet from the regulating chamber.

With the foregoing generalobjects in View the characteristics of vthe invention will now be described in more detail by reference to one form` or example of a construction suitable for the embodiment of my proposed improvements, after which those features and combinations rdeemed to be novel and patentable will vbe particularly set forth and claimed. f

4 Claims. (Cl. B10-'28)' In the drawing, the view shown is a schematic net forming a part'of the apparatus.

Mostk of the prevailing types of gas feeding-i apparatus, to which the present invention relates, 5

operate to feed chlorine and the like, in gaseous form.. and by volumetric control, through the medium of some form of orifice device throughf which the gas is caused to iloW at a rate which is a' function of the size of the orice openingV and lOf th Vdifferential pressure which produces that flow-assuming that the temperature of the incoming gas at the orifice remains substantially Some of these commercial types of constant. equipment use a needle valve for the control oririce, `others use pressure regulating valves for` controlling the rate of gas flow, while another type makes'use of differential pressure means regulated in turn by means dependent onliquid.:

sarily resulting from sluggish liquid float actionV and the operation of the complicated mechanicalY connections required for the relatively numerous float devices entering into the average equipment; in addition to which, such equipment is also quite cumbersome in its space requirements,

due to the relatively large number of floats and liquid compartments needed, thereby limiting its range as to pressure differential. This in turn imposes corresponding restrictions as to any acr curate feeding range 0r capacity for such equip'- ment, in connection with any given size of orifice! used forcontrol of the gas flow.

The present improved apparatus aims to avoid E for the most part, the various objections above outlined, by eliminating the use of equipment the operation of which is dependent on liquid float action, and substituting improved means in which the principle of the control is primarily depend-- ent upon differential pressure action in the gas flow as developed by the feeding operation, and

variations occurring in such differential pressure are in turn utilized for automatically maintaining a substantially uniform gas flow. v

Referring now to the drawing in detail, this illustrates the apparatus as comprising a construction-which may be housed for the most part within a cabinet I0. Accordingly, a gas supply' being illustrated as broken away within the cabi-.1l

tube I2 leads from the container (not shown) of the chlorine or other gas supply, to a control valve which is designated generally by reference numeral I4. This valve may be of any suitable construction for the purpose, and one outlet from the valve being by way of a flow tube I6 which projects upwardly through a .block or plate I8 at the top of the cabinet I0. This block I8 forms the supporting base for a glass bell jar 2D, the lower edge of which is seated with a gastight t in a groove 22 in said base, and rmly secured in this position by means of a tie-bar 24,.

engaging the top of the jar, where the ends of the bar are engaged by nuts 26 at the upper ends of anchor rods 28 which have their lower ends held in retaining engagement with said .base block I8.

Enclosing the upper end portion of the tube I6 is an orifice bell member 30 formed with a gas orice 32 at its upper end, the tube I6 havingA guide. elements 33 adaptedV to function as guiding means for said bell member in its vertical movements, as hereinafter explained. The bell. member 30 rests initially on a spacer block 34 in such a manner as to maintain its lower end in liquid communication with the interior of the bell jar 20..

A bypass gas supply tube 36 may also be provided, leading from the valve I4 through the base block I 8 tothe upper interior of the bell jar 20; and the inlet end of this bypass tube 36 may be suitably controlled by a secondary Valve 38.

Mounted in projecting relation both above and below the block or plate I8 is a transparent tube 40 closed at both ends with the exception of a water leak orifice 42 at its upper end which is adapted to feed water toy a bubble compartment 43 formed above a partition block 44 in the upper end portion of saidl tube 40, at approximately the level of the bottom of the bell jar 20. A gas flow tube 4.6 is mounted in the upper end of the tube 40, with its lower end adjacent to the bottom of the compartment 43, while its upper end projects well above the upper end of the tube [-6 and terminates in a thin-edged valve seat defining a gas inlet orifice 48 which is controlledv by a rocker type of valve member 50. in allzrespects similar to that illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 539,049, led June 7, 1944, now Patent No. 2,459,700 dated January 18, 1949. This valve is shown as provided with an operating arm I projecting. over the. orice bell member 30, the upper end of which carries an angularV projection or loop. element 52 adapted for actuating engagement with said arm 5I; and moreover, a stop element 54. is shown as adjustably mounted upon the upper end portion of the bypass tube 36in position for engaging and limiting the upward movement of said bell member.

A tube 56 is also shown as providing a, medium for the gas flow from the upper portion of the bubble compartment 43 to the space within the tube 40 below the partition 44, where a now-metering manometer structure is provided in the lower portion of said tube 40.

This structure comprises a gas manometer tube 58 having a metering orice 60 in its upper end, and having its lower open end supported in liquid-communicating relation with the interior of the tube 40, as by means of a support'- ing spacer block 62. located in the lower end: of said tube 4i?.V The manometertube encloses-f the upper portion of a combination gas and water outlet tube 64 which leads out through the bottom of the tube 40 and carries spacer elements or spiders 65 serving as positioning means for the tube 58, that is, for maintaining said tube 58 in proper vertical position as well as in spaced relation to the tube 64.

The outlet pipe 64 extends down to a point adjacent to the bottom of a constant level float box G6 which is provided with an overflow pipe 68. Below the tube 40 the pipe E54l is connected by a pipe l0 with a water-jet form of eductor device 'I2 having a water Supply connection I4 and also a discharge outlet 'I5 for the outgoing gas and water mixture. The water supply pipe is provided with a branch connection 'I6 controlled by a valve 'II and float 18 for supplying water to the box 69, and also a branch pipe communicating with the upper interior of the bell jar 20 and provided Vwith a regulating valve 82, as shown. In this connection it may be stated that one purpose of using the said eductor device yis to develop a partial vacuum or negative pressure condition in the carrying out of the contro-l operation, as a safeguard against any leak in the..

might result from a reliance on a feeding pressure as maintained at the source of said gas supply.

projecting some distance above the upper end of the tube 40, while-the' lower end ofthe pipe 84 extends below the normal water level in the iloat box 66. Asafety'oat' ball 8.6 is mounted on the upper Vend of the` pipe 84 and provided with a connecting wire 88 or the like supporting a vacuum Vbreaker cup 90 whichv encloses the lower end of the pipe 84; and thisvpipe 84 also carries a vent bell 92 which in turn encloses: said cup 98 and isf provided with a safetyvvent outlet 94.

From the combination vent and overflow pipe 84 a flexible tubular conection 96 leads tothe top of a. bell float member |00, the lower portion of whichiis submergedbelow the liquid level in the oat box 66. The top off this-float member IIlI) is also provided with an operating connecf tion I|l2 with one arm of a beam I'04 which isv fulcrumed at I 05 upon a fixed supporting arm a. |06 beneath they valve device I4. This arm of the beam IIJ'4. is also provided with an adjustable poise IDB andthe other arm of the beam carries a counterbalancing weight H0 and is provided with a link connection II2 with: the control army admitted to the float box, and'to the bell jar 20-,`

, up to the levels indicated in the drawing, where,-

upon the'su'pply of gas is admitted: to the valve I4 (by opening of the valve II: vof thefg'as supply tube I2):; and with the valve 'I3 inthe water line 'I4 also open, the operation of the water-jet eductor device 12 will result in a vacuum action being produced through the connections-to the rocker valve 50,and hence tothe interior of thevv bell jar 28. The degree of vacuum thus produced in the bell jar will depend-upon the relativeA ex ithe.l gas inletfval've I4 predetermines the limit oi.-A

Extending througn tnevbase i is ofi-the 'beu jar f 20 is a combination vent and overflow pipe 84YV the working vacuum to be maintained'in the bell jar 20; for as the vacuum actionin the jar 20 approaches such predetermined limit, a ydifierential pressure is `developed (as indicated -by the irregular water level) due to the gas entering the jar 2i) by Way of the orifice 32 of the orifice bell,V

as a consequence of which said orificeV bell 30 will riseand thereby allow the control valve 56 to moveinto more nearly closed position.l The bell member 36 in its 'lowermost position operates to maintain said valve 50 open, and the vertical movement of the bell member may be sufiicient to entirely close said valve, following which a further rise of the bell member causes it to engagethe stop 54, thereby limiting its vertical upward movement.

. As the operation proceeds, this actuation of the control valve 50 in response to fluctuations of'fthe differential pressure in the bell jar or regulating chamber 25 will take place automatically, thereby tending to maintain a constant degree of vacuum within said chamber. This substantially constant vacuum action is in turn utilized for correspondingly controlling the gas inlet valve I4, by virtue of the pipe connection 84 and branch tube 96 through which said vacuum action is transmitted to the bell float chamber |00. Consequently the movements of the float member |00 will be in unison with those of the orifice bell 30, and so coordinated as to operate the valve I4 in a manner which will regulate the gas inflow and, in turn, the operation of the valve 50, so that a steady and uniform vacuum will be maintained in the bell jar or regulating chamber In this connection it may be stated that the bypass tube 36 is provided for accommodating a supplemental flow of gas as required, inasmuch as it is not at all essential that the entire flow of gas takeY place through the pipe I6, and the orifice 32 being purposely of relatively small diameter for accommodating small rates of gas flow, and the responsive movements of the orifice bell member being the same regardless of the extent of gas iiow bypassed through the pipe 36.

The gas leaving the bell jar 20 flows through the orifice 48 and tube 46 into the bubble compartment 43, where the slightest gas current i s indicated by the bubbling action produced as it passes through said compartmentand on through the tube 56 and into the manometer tube 58. Here the water is separated from the gas and follows the path indicated by the arrows while the gas flows through the metering orifice 60 and thereafter rejoins the water, vthe water and gas mixture flowing on through the tube 64 and the connection to the eductor device 12, and thence through the discharge outlet 15.

` Since the normal flow of gas and Water from the tube 64 is not suiiicient to satisfy the vacuum capacity of the eductor device 12, a supplementary water supply is drawn up from the float box 66 through the lower extension of the pipe 64, with a view to maintaining a substantially constant and approximately xed vacuum in the gas outlet tube 46.

Alongside the tube 40, opposite the manometer tube 58, is arranged a suitable flow rate scale 59, appropriately calibrated to indicate rates of gas flow, with zero reading opposite the top of said tube 58, and so long as there is no gas flow taking place through the pipe 46, the surface of the water level in the tube 40 will also register opposite said Zero reading. But when a gas ilow has been established through the tubes 46 and bell member 30 in combination with the control valve 50 provide a most sensitive means, operating in response to the most minute changes in.

differential pressure, for effectively controlling the gas flow; and since the response of the orifice bell is instantaneous and non-pulsating and also positive in action, this insures a high degree of uniformity, steadiness and accuracy with which the vacuum action is maintained for the production of the gas flow, and incidentally, an operation suitable for manometer readings as above referred to. Moreover, as a further control function, which may be either supplemental or adapted to be carried out entirely independent of the rst controlaction, for the regulation of the valve I4 itself, this likewise is rendered directly responsive to any variation of the vacuum condition within the bell jar 26 and operates to effect proper adjustment of said valve i4 for making just such corrections of the feeding rate as are indicated by the fluctuations responded to, as al-r ready explained. l

The arrangement of the bubble device in the manner shown and combining it with the construction provided for the metering manometer has important advantages. The bubble com Vpartment provides an efficient visible indicator,

operating to indicate the slightest gas flow, and being visible at a distance upwards of fifty feet when suitably illuminated. The water supply necessary for both the bubble compartment and the manometer structure is conveniently drawn from the bell jar 26 and this supply automatically maintained constant 'by the novel design of construction illustrated.

Provision is made for safeguarding the foregoing operation against abnormal pressure conditions. For example, while the operation of the eductor device is not adapted to produce an excessive vacuum in the bell jar or chamber 20, an excessive suctional action from the gas supply line l2 might be sufficient to pull water into the jar through the pipe 64 but for provision of thev connection from the float 86 to the vent cup 90 whereby any such excess vacuum would be atv once broken. Likewise, any excess of positive gas pressure in said bell jar or chamber 20 would be vented out through said tube 84 to the vent bell 92v and outlet 94. 'Obviously the possibility of any excess water pressure in said jar or chamber 20 is eliminated by the provision of the lar-ge overow outlet 84. Y

It will be apparent, as already indicated, that thecontrol features of the invention may 'be practised either concurrently or independently of each other. For example, the automatic regulation of the valve i4 through the medium of the bell float member 00 might be dispensed with; or the control by means of the orifice bell 30 and control valve 56 and their related parts might under some conditions be omitted, leaving the control function dependent upon the operation of the float member i and its connections.

As has already been indicated, any required volume of gas, in excess of the capacity of the orifice 32, can be admitted through the bypass pipe 36 controlled by the valve 38. Moreover,

the-adustablel poisel 198i provides'- means for ad- ,rustingl and. setting' the rateef gas flow, particu lar-ly whenvoperating on a relatively lowdifferen` Again, it is obvious that the operation might, l

if. necessary or desired, be carried out entirely manually, asby means-of a regulating screw Hv operating against the control arm l5 of the valVe Finally., it may be further pointed out that evenA in the absence of or failure of other means of controh the apparatusV asA herein illustrated, having the inlet valve M as-.one means of control, maybe operated withoutA appreciable interruption or necessity of a shut-down, simply by temporary regulation through themedium ofsaid inlet valve.

While'I have herein shown and described apparatus made: up of the necessary parts inappropriatev operative relationship for the practice of my invention, it is to be understood that the relationship so indicated.. is merely illustrative and that the. same may be greatly varied and modified to conform. to Varying requirements of local conditions.. Thev parts of the regulating valve t4, for example, may preferably be elevated above. the cabinet lil. for greater accessibility;

and, for chlorine operation a more special type of value would doubtless be preferable, such as the. torsion and packless typeillustrated in my Patent. No. 2,293,641 dated August 18, 1942. I therefore desire to be understood as expressly reserving the right to make all. such formal changes asmay fairly fall within the spirit and scope of myA invention as defined by the appended claims,

Having, thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for the feeding of gases at a substantially uniform rate, comprising a regulating chamber having a gas intake and a gas outlet, vacuum producing means` communicating with said gas outlet, means for regulating the flow through. said gas intake and said gas outletv respectively, and a combination visible ow indicating and metering structure included in the discharge flow line from said gas outlet and sub-lect to the vacuum eiect of said vacuum producing means, said structure comprising a trans- `parent-walled water chamber divided by a partition intoA a lower manometer compartment and an. upper gas bubbling compartment communicating directly with said gas outlet, and a tube carried by said partition and providing an overflow4 connectionv between said lower compartment and the upper portion of said gas bubbling compartment.

2. Apparatus for the feeding of gasesat a sub` stantially uniform rate, comprising a regulating chamber having a gas intake and a gas outlet, vacuum producing means communicating with said gas outlet, means for regulating the oW 8l.` through said gas intakespecti'vely, anda visible-now indicating and.

metering structure included" in the discharge flowf line from saidgas iowV outlet and comprising a gas bubbling compartment overflowingv into*n a manometer structure subject to the/vacuum effect of said: vacuum producing" means.

3. Apparatus-'forl the feeding of! gases at asube stantially uniform rate,- comprising a regulating- 4vchamber havingl a gasVv intake and agas outlet andhaving a liquid level? thereinbelow said'intakeand outlet, vacuumk producing-means communi'- cating witlrsaid` chamber above said liquid level,

meansvfor regulating the-ow through said intake l whereby adifi'erential pressure Amay be-deve'loped" in said chamber, float-actuated'means responsive' to fluctuations in said differential pressure for controlling they iiow through said gas outlet, andl a combination visible flow indicating and meter- Vingl structureY included in the discharge flow linefrom saidv gas outlet, said structure comprising'a transparent Walledfv water chamber divided into a lower manometer compartment subject to the vacuum eiTect ofv said vacuum producing means',

:f and an upper gas bubbling compartment communicating' directly with said gas outlet and also having an overflow connection with said' manometer compartment.

4. Apparatus for the feedingY of gases at a sub-A stantiall'y' uniform rate, comprising a regulating chamber having a gas intake and a gas outlet and having a liquid level therein below said intake and outlet, vacuum producing means communicating with saidv chamber above said liquid' level, neat-actuated means for, controlling the flow through said gas outlet inrresponse to differential pressure variations in said chamber, and ay Visible-flow indicating and metering struc@- ture includedin the discharge flow line from said' gas outletand comprising a gas bubbling com- I Vacuum producing means.

.ses

ELMER E. HARPER.

REFERENCESY CITED The following references are of record in the-- Iilc of this patent: f

UNITED STATES PATENTS and said. gas. outlet rei 

